San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-07-14
THURSDAY, July Ia. 1887.
DIVISION NOT DIGNITY.

The true inwardness Of the presidents
studied contempt of the Grand Army Of
the Republic as q body. and his open
eyed wonder that any one could pos
sibly accuse him of any feeling against
the soldiers of the nation, Is becoming
apparent. The movement apparently
SO simple ia decidedly complex. The
beginning sntedates the draft OF 1868
and the substitution of the name of an
Erie county felon for that of Grover
Cleveland on the rolls Of the United
States army. 1t goes back to the very
beginning Of the war for the suppression
of rebellion and the perpetuatlOn of the
powers OF the national government.
There were disloyal men at the north
even in those days. Men whose love OF
cotton was greater than their love Of
country. These men were called cop
perheads. They were without excep-
ton democrats. They we're naturally Op-
posed to the republican administration
and were not found In the ranks of the
southern democratic army. They did
not have the courage OF their opinions.
These men formed one wig of the dem
ocratic party of the north. The other
wing Of the democratic party was loyal
to the government OF the United States
and refused to cOndOne treason. or apollo
gize for secession. or attempt to cripple
the national government in over
tions of party were merged in the ques-
ton of sustaining the life of the nation.
Grant and Sherman belonged to this
wing of the democratic party. SO did
Logan and thousands of brave soldiers
who laid down their lives on bloody
fields and counted 1t holy sacrifice on
the altar of the republic whose liberties
had been bought by the blood of their
sires. Thousands and tens of thous ands
of their democratic comrades in arms
who shared with them this baptism of
blood we're spared the final sacrifice, and
when the war closed with the Union
preserved, they returned 10 their homes
and TO the peaceful Industries of trade,
the marts of commerce, and the fields
of agriculture. Nearly all of these men
helped to swell the republican MAORI
ties OF the early reconstruction period.
AS years passed the memories of the
war blunted, the old party affiliations
were resumed, the policy of reoOnstruc-
ton was, to many Of them, unsatisfac-
tory, and they were found voting against
the administration. Gradually the de-
macraoy OF the south gained power.
Outside OF those who had actively par
ticipated 10 the war for secession there
were not many who could administer
the affairs of local government. The
negro vote was found In the way Of
democratic office holding. 1t was put
aside, violently at first, more quietly af-
terward. Representation based upon pop
ulation gave the white democrats the
benefit Of this very largely suppressed
colored vote. liz was thus that the
south became solid and all her electoral
votes were cast for democratic candi-
didates. The influx OF capital in the
south lie rendering the suppression OF
this oolored vote more dangerous.
Northern ideas of absolute free speech
are growing into acceptance. The
needs OF the democratic party grow
pressing. BY fatal division in ,he re-
publican party in 1884, the republican
candidate failed to carry New York by
about ], 900 votes and Grover Cleveland
was elected. The years since his cleo
ton have greatly decreased the hopes Of
a solid south In 1888 and the democracy
must needs make good the loss that will
be thus entsiled. One method suggests
itself to the democratic counsellors.
The old union soldiers, returning from
the field. soon grew DESTROYS OF perpet-
Mating the memories of those glorious
DAYS when all Of life was thrown into
the scale Of the union, and manhood and
home and oil it held dear was pledged
for the life lof the:yOung nation. Thus
grew and multiplied the organization
known as the Grand Army of the Re-
public, whose posts and camp fires are
found in nehrly every county of the
northern states. The soldiers